USC Running Back Quits Team, Calls Coach Steve Sarkisian A Racist

The USC football team begins its 2014 season against Fresno State tomorrow night in the L.A. Coliseum. But, considering the events of the past week, that seems like the last thing everyone outside Trojan fans appear to care about concerning the squad.

Following the debunking of senior safety Josh Shaw’s heroic rescue story to explain his ankle injury, former senior running back Anthony Brown has also added fuel to the controversy fire. Brown recently claimed on his social media accounts that head coach Steve Sarkisian is a racist.

Brown wrote–in a now-deleted post–on his Instagram, “Sark treated me like a slave in his Office…Can’t play for a racist MAN!!!!!,” in reference to a meeting which Brown called to find out about his place on the team (Brown quit on Aug. 21). TMZ then caught up with Brown to explain his remarks, to which Brown said, “He called me a coward, all types of f–k words. He stereotype my mom and dad. like he belittle me to another level.” TMZ notes that Sark never used the N-word in the alleged hostile meeting with Brown.

Sarkisian called the accusations “ridiculous.” Linebacker Scott Felix also took time via Twitter to debunk Brown’s comments, saying, “Coach Sark is a great coach and even better person. Accusations like that couldn’t be more untrue. #FightOn,” followed by backing words from wide receiver George Farmer and former quarterback Matt Leinart.

The oft-injured Brown, a native of Rialto, has played sparingly for the Trojans since joining the team for the 2011 season. He started the preseason sixth on the Trojans’ running back depth chart before getting injured during training camp with a hyperextended elbow. Sarkisian told ESPN Los Angeles that he wanted the cornerback-turned-running back to stay with the team and did everything he could to try to keep him from quitting: “it’s a bit unfortunate because we could have used him. We think he could have helped us.”